BL11 Dazhu (Great Shuttle)

Location

1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV13 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra.

Categories

• Hui-Meeting point of Bone

The classical groups this point belongs to, from Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture.

Indications

Conditions for which BL11 is listed as indicated. An indication list is a reference index, not a prescription – see the protocols below for sourced treatments.

TCM actions

What classical sources say BL11 does in the terms of Chinese medicine theory. These describe the point, not a condition.

Protocols using BL11

• Fatigue, Insomnia, Sleep Difficulty Falling Asleep, Sleep Early Awakening, Sleep Frequent Awakening, Memory Decreased – BL11, BL13, BL23, BL52, GV04, GV14 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60025-x ↗)
• Headache, Vomiting, Nausea, Migraine, Head Pain – LI04, ST08, ST36, ST40, ST44, SP06, BL02, BL10, BL11, BL60, PC06, TB05, GB02, GB08, GB14, GB34, GB41, LV02, LV03, GV18, GV23 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-241 ↗)
• Headache, Muscle Pain, Fatigue Chronic, Fatigue Unexplained, Sleep Unrefreshing, Memory Impaired, Malaise Post-exertional – BL11, BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, GB20, GV20 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-147 ↗)
• Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Stiffness Neck – SI03, SI04, SI09, SI10, SI11, SI12, SI14, BL11, BL12, BL65, TB14, TB15, TB16, TB17, GB21 (doi:10.1136/acupmed-2013-010410 ↗)
• Neck Chronic Pain, Neck Non-specific Pain – SI12, SI14, BL11, BL12, TB15, GB21 (doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-132 ↗)
• Neck Pain, Radiating Arm Pain, Disc Herniation Cervical, Radiculopathy Cervical – LI04, SI03, BL10, BL11, BL12, TB03, TB10, GB20, GB21, GV16 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2012.15.2.036 ↗)
• Joint Pain, Muscle Pain, Fatigue Chronic, Sleep Unrefreshing, Fatigue Post-exertional – BL11, BL13, BL15, BL18, BL20, BL23, GB20, GV20 (doi:10.1186/s13063-015-0857-0 ↗)
• Osteoporosis, Bone Pain, Muscle Weakness, Fracture Risk – ST36, SP06, BL11, BL20, BL23, BL40, KD03, CV04, GV03, GV04 (doi:10.1155/2019/2705263 ↗)
• Headache, Sore Throat, Joint Pain, Muscle Pain, Fatigue Chronic, Sleep Unrefreshing, Memory Impaired, Fatigue Post-exertional, Cold Intolerance, Concentration Impaired, Yang Deficiency Spleen-kidney, Lumbar Weakness – BL11, BL13, BL14, BL15, BL17, BL18, BL19, BL20, BL21, BL22, BL23, BL25, GV02, GV03, GV04, GV05, GV06, GV07, GV08, GV09, GV10, GV11, GV12, GV13, GV14 (doi:10.1186/s12967-023-04250-z ↗)
• Chronic Pain, Neck Chronic Pain, Disability Cervical, Neck Pain – LI16, SI14, SI15, BL11, TB15 (doi:10.1111/cns.14335 ↗)
• Neck Pain, Disability Neck, Spondylosis Cervical, Radiculopathy Cervical, Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy, Calcification Nuchal Ligament – LI04, LI10, LI11, SI11, SI15, BL10, BL11, TB05, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20210531 ↗)
• Neck Pain, Cervicalgia – SI12, SI14, BL11, BL12, TB15, GB21 (doi:10.1186/s12906-025-04891-1 ↗)
• Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee, Inflammation Joint – ST35, ST36, BL11, KD01, GB39 (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20221256 ↗)
• Contracture Knee, Brachial Plexus Injury, Muscle Atrophy, Paralysis Upper Extremity, Paralysis Lower Extremity, Contracture Ankle, Contracture Shoulder, Contracture Elbow, Scoliosis, Neuromotor Impairment, Steppage Gait – LU01, LI04, LI05, LI11, LI14, ST34, ST36, ST41, SP09, SP10, SI05, SI06, SI07, SI09, BL11, BL12, BL22, BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26, BL36, BL37, BL39, BL55, BL56, BL57, BL58, BL60, BL61, BL62, KD03, KD04, KD05, KD06, TB09, GB20, GB21, GB40 (doi:10.3831/KPI.2013.16.009 ↗)
• Neck Pain, Stiffness Neck, Limited Range Of Motion Neck – LI04, LI05, LI17, LI18, SI03, SI14, SI15, SI16, BL10, BL11, BL60, TB03, TB10, TB16, GB20, GB21, GB39, GV14, GV16 (doi:10.1016/j.imr.2018.01.002 ↗)
• Hypertension, Neck Pain, Cervical Pain, Spondylosis Cervical, Radiculopathy Arm – LI04, LI16, BL11, GB20, GB21 (doi:10.21275/sr24414084954 ↗)
• Shoulder Pain, Neck Pain, Radiculopathy Cervical, Upper Limb Numbness, Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy – LU07, LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, SI03, SI09, SI11, SI14, SI15, BL10, BL11, TB05, GB20, GB21, GV14, GV16, GV20 (doi:10.19288/j.cnki.issn.1000-2723.2019.05.009 ↗)
• Asthma, Wheezing – LU01, LI04, BL11, BL13, GV14 (doi:10.16305/j.1007-1334.2021.2005036 ↗)
• Headache Occipital, Neuralgia Occipital, Occipital Pain – LU06, SI03, BL10, BL11, GV13 (doi:10.1186/s12906-020-02955-y ↗)
• Insomnia, Ulcer, Chronic Wound – SP06, BL11, BL30, BL41, BL53, BL54, GB39, CV08, GV03, GV14 (doi:10.12659/MSM.951574 ↗)
• Psychological Trauma Post-disaster Depression Insomnia – BL11, BL23, BL30, GB31, GV02, GV14 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(10)60021-0 ↗)
• Dementia Senile – BL11, BL23, GV14 (doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60071-6 ↗)
• Knee Pain, Osteoarthritis Knee – ST35, ST36, BL11, KD01, GB39, XL05A, XL05B (doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20221256 ↗)
• Osteoporosis – ST36, BL11, BL23, GB39, CV04, GV04 (doi:10.2147/ppa.s623349 ↗)
• Neck Pain, Myofascial Pain, Posture Forward – LU07, LI10, LI16, SI03, SI11, SI14, SI15, BL10, BL11, TB03, TB15, GB12, GB20, GB21, GV14 (doi:10.47176/mjiri.37.34 ↗)
• Back Chronic Pain – BL10, BL11, BL12, BL17, BL21, BL23, BL24, BL25, GB21, GB30, LV08, AH01, AH02, AH03, AT12, CYC08, CYC11, CYC13, IAC03, TF10 (doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.07.008 ↗)
• Osteoporosis – ST36, BL11, BL18, BL20, BL23, CV04, CV08, CV12, CV17, GV04, GV14 (doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2017.05.005 ↗)
• Allergic Rhinitis – BL07, BL11 (doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1805445 ↗)
• Fever, Poor Appetite, Tongue Coating Yellow, Urine Scanty, Urine Red, Temperature 40, Tongue Body Red, Pulse Full, Common Cold, Common Cold, Autumn Warmth Syndrome, Flu Symptoms, Headache, Aching, Weakness, Soreness Head, Soreness Body, Soreness Throat, Constipation, Tongue Coating Thick, Pulse Tight, Heat External, Heat, Release Exterior, Poor Appetite, Tongue Coating Yellow, Urine Scanty, Urine Red, Temperature 40, Tongue Body Red, Pulse Full, Common Cold, Autumn Warmth Syndrome, Flu Symptoms, Soreness Head, Soreness Body, Soreness Throat, Tongue Coating Thick, Pulse Tight, Heat External, Release Exterior – LI04, ST08, ST36, SP06, BL11, BL17, BL23, GB20, GB34, GB39, CV06, CV12, CV17, GV14, GV16, GV20, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH03, XH05 (Acupuncture Point Prescriptions, entry ACC5)
• Kidney Jing Deficiency, Kidney Jing Deficiency – SP06, BL11, BL23, BL52, KD03, GB39, CV04, GV04, GV16 (Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker, A Manual of Acupuncture – point group actions)
• Heat Lung, Wind Lung, Heat Lung, Wind Lung – LU03, LU06, LU07, LU08, LU10, LU11, LI04, LI19, SI07, SI08, SI09, SI10, SI18, BL02, BL04, BL05, BL06, BL07, BL11 (Yang Yong-Xuan, clinical point-selection notes)
• Osteoporosis, Osteoporosis Postmenopausal – ST36, SP06, BL11, BL18, BL20, BL23, GB25, GB34, GB39, CV04, GV04 (Effect of Laser Acupuncture on Forearm Bone Mineral Density and Wrist Pain in Osteoporotic Postmenopausal Women. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05559619)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis – LI11, ST36, SP09, SP10, BL11, BL20, BL23, KD03, TB05, GB34, GV14 (Acupuncture Study on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Monitoring Microbiome and Blood. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01619176)
• Neck Pain, Upper Extremity Numbness, Cervical Radiculopathy – LU07, LI04, LI10, LI11, LI15, SI03, SI09, SI11, SI14, SI15, BL10, BL11, TB05, GB20, GB21, GV14, GV16, GV20 (李具宝高焕焕池细绿何瑞建韦佳佳李骥征杨晨旭周柏健马献伟王鼎彭文潘侯刚蒯永丽韦佳佳高焕焕张伟强. 近10年文献中针灸治疗神经根型颈椎病的选穴规律探讨. , [CNKI])
• Neck Pain, Radiculopathy Cervical, Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy – BL11 (陈维. 穴位埋线疗法治疗神经根型颈椎病临床疗效研究. , [CNKI])
• Fever, Common Cold, Headache, Aching, Weakness, Constipation, Heat, Poor Appetite, Tongue Coating Yellow, Urine Scanty, Urine Red, Temperature 40, Tongue Body Red, Pulse Full, Common Cold, Autumn Warmth Syndrome, Flu Symptoms, Soreness Head, Soreness Body, Soreness Throat, Tongue Coating Thick, Pulse Tight, Heat External, Release Exterior – LI04, ST08, ST36, SP06, BL11, BL17, BL23, GB20, GB34, GB39, CV06, CV12, CV17, GV14, GV16, GV20, XH01A, XH01B, XH01C, XH01D, XH03, XH05 (Acupuncture Point Prescriptions, entry ACC5)
• Bi Syndrome, Bi Bone, Soreness, Heaviness, Joint Pain, Bi Syndrome, Bi Bone, Joint Pain – BL11, GB39 (sacredlotus.com ↗)

Most often selected alongside BL11

How many sourced protocols in the index pair each point with BL11. Corpus frequency, not a combination to use.

• BL23Kidney Shu Point16 protocols
• GV14Great Vertebra14 protocols
• GB20Wind Pool12 protocols
• GB21Shoulder Well12 protocols
• LI04Junction Valley12 protocols
• ST36Leg Three Miles11 protocols
• GB39Suspended Bell10 protocols
• BL10Celestial Pillar9 protocols
• SI14Outer Shoulder Point8 protocols
• BL20Spleen Shu Point7 protocols
• GV04Life Gate7 protocols
• GV16Wind Mansion7 protocols

Other points on the Bladder Meridian